Different brands of kimchi, the traditional Korean condiment made with fermented cabbage, usually have different vegetables added to them. The brand used in this recipe includes carrots and peppers, which give the flavor of this easy soup added dimension. When choosing a kimchi, opt for one that is not too sour, so the oysters will not be overpowered. Taste the kimchi to assess its spiciness, and adjust the seasoning for this dish accordingly.

I love cooking my own Kimchi Vegetable Soup With Oysters at home because aside from having the chance to enhance my cooking skills, I also get the opportunity to make oyster soup the way I like it to be and within my budget.

“Select” oysters are what you’ll usually find in the seafood department of grocery stores; the term refers to their size.

Make Ahead: If you plan to make this soup in advance, refrigerate it without the oysters or spinach. Once the soup is reheated, they can be added just before serving.

What is Tofu and is it good for you? Tofu is coagulated soy milk in short soy bean curd. The curd is then pressed into a block and is used in many different Asian and Vegan dishes.

I use it in my stirfrys and egg rolls. I feel that tofu with its soft cheese like texture makes a great protein substitute or addition. I think the verdict is still out on whether or not Tofu or bean curd is healthy or not.

I’ve read arguments for pros and cons. I don’t pay too much attention to them as I did grow up eating Tofu, it’s an Asian thing I guess. Regardless of the debate I see it this way, tofu like anything can be good or bad for you depending on how much you consume regularly. I mean babies allergic to lactose, like my grandson Jett, pretty much live off soy milk for the first year of their lives, so I’m guessing tofu made from soy milk isn’t a bad thing. But like I always say too much of anything is bad for you so I’m thinking Tofu falls into this category.

Having said that here is a tofu side dish I make that the whole family enjoys. It’s super easy to make and can actually be eaten as a main dish when paired with steamed rice. By the way you can serve it hot or cold. On hot summer days I chill it in the fridge and serve very cold. It’s a great side dish that goes well with my Spicy Kalbi Kabobs! The some what bland creamy tofu taste tempers the spiciness of the beef kabobs and kimchee!

Here’s a new hummus flavor I whipped up for the family. It goes great with the Beef Shawarma wraps I make. It’s very easy to make. You can use a food processor, but I was too lazy to take out my processor so I made it in my Ninja blender, it worked just as well.

I use sun dried tomatoes I buy in the open markets of Venice. I store them in the freezer and soak them in water for a few hours before using them. You can use the sun dried tomatoes they sell in jars at the produce section of your local supermarket. As for the roasted red pepper I just use the ones in a jar I get from the supermarket.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes

1/2 cup roasted red peppers

1 cup chick peas – Garbanzo Beans

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbls. sesame tahini

1 tbls. minced garlic

1 tsp. sea salt

Juice from 1 lemon

Extra Virgin olive oil (optional)

Directions:

Place tomatoes in blender or food processor – blend until finely chopped

In my effort to change our eating habits to something a bit healthier than meat and potatoes I make a meatless meal at least once a week. One of my favorites is this Veggie Stir Fry.

It’s amazing how filling and tasty a simple meal of healthy veggies can be. This week I made this dinner of zucchini, spinach, and tomatoes. It was delicious, my husband loved it. You can serve it with a piece of whole grain bread if you wish; the bread is great for dipping in the juices.

You can also serve this dish as an appetizer or side dish. It’s so good! It goes great with barbecued and roasted meats.

What exactly is a “Torta”? It is a cake, pie, pastry, sandwich, Tapas, or omelette? I know it can get confusing. The quick answer is all of the above! What? How can that be? Well it really depends on where you are and what language you’re speaking.

“Torta” is a word derived from latin and means different things is different languages. In Mexico “Torta” refers to a sandwich; in Italy and Portugal it refers to a cake, pie, or pastry; in Spain it can be a cake or pie, or even a Tapas; in the Philippines it’s an omelette. Yup definitely confusing.

For today’s recipe I’ll be using the Filipino definition of Torta, we’ll be making an omelette.

In the Philippines torta refers to an omelette that can be filled with meat, potatoes, or eggplants. It’s made to look sort of like a cake, not the folded omelettes you normally see on the breakfast menus at IHOP or Denny’s.

Filipinos eat torta for any meal, usually with steamed white rice. Growing up we had it for dinner. It’s a basic Filipino comfort food which I make for my family all the time. It’s simple and fast.

Tortas can be made with ground beef or pork or eggplants, but we prefer it with just potatoes and onions. I serve it on meatless Monday’s! Another family favorite is Torta Talong (Eggplant Omelette).

Today I’m going to share my favorite Torta recipe. I love it with rice and dip it in ketchup. Try it, you might just like it!

A quick tip, use a small frying pan to make this torta so you can flip it over without breaking it.

Torta – Filipino Potato Omelette

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes – diced

1 small onion – minced

1/2 tsp. garlic – minced

5 Large Eggs – beaten

Salt & Pepper to taste

Oil for frying

Directions:

Heat about 2 Tbs. of oil

Add diced potatoes and saute until they start to turn golden brown and soften

Add onions, saute until onion are translucent

Add garlic, saute until the potatoes are cooked – stir constantly to keep the potatoes from burning and sticking to the pan, add another Tbs. of oil if needed – don’t let the pan run out of oil

Season with salt & pepper to taste

Add more oil if needed, about another Tbs.

When potatoes are cooked pour beaten eggs into pan, make sure the beaten eggs spread out evenly in the pan and touch the pan edge.

Cook about 3-4 minutes or until the eggs start to dry up

Carefully flip your torta over and cook another 2-3 minutes or until done